Closure cap



CLOSURE CAP Filed April 25, 1955 Daniel P. 3 a [a :25.

Patented Aug. 25, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved closure cap which is adapted for use on collapsible tubes of the type generally employed to carry shaving cream, tooth paste, and the like.

One object of the invention is to provide a closure cap which will, after initial installation, remain permanently on the neck of the collapsible tube, so that loss or mutilation thereof will be prevented.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which will permit of ready unsealing so that the usual tedious unscrewing operation will be eliminated. V

A further object of the invention is to provide a closure cap which may be opened with one hand so that a multiplicity of operations will not be necessary to open and close the container to which the device is attached.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a closure cap which will be extremely simple in construction and which may be manufactured in large quantities to retail at low cost.

Other and incidental objects of the invention not specifically mentioned in the foregoing will render themselves apparent as the description of the invention proceeds.

My improved cap is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of the device as it would appear in closed position on theneck of a collapsible tube.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of my improved closure cap in closed position.

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the cap. 3 Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing the latch employed.

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the spring employed.

Figure 6 is a perspective view showing a slightly modified form of latch.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing, the numeral I indicates a collapsible tube of the type generally employed for containing tooth paste, shaving cream, or the like. It should be understood, of course, that my device is not limited for use with collapsible tubes but may be used in connection with any other container of suitable size and dimensions. The tube I is formed at its upper end with a neck 2 which is externally threaded to receive the circular body 3 of my improved closure cap. The body 3 is formed of a rubber composition, or any other suitable material, and is formed at one side, near its upper rim, with radially extending spaced integral hinge loops 4. Formed on the body diametrically of the hinge loops 4, is a projection or bill 5. As will be observed by a close scrutiny of Figure 1 of the drawing, the body is screwed on the neck 2, and said body is of a length slightly less than the neck so that, when the body is screwed on the neck to a point where the top of the body and top of the neck are flush, a relatively small space I will be defined, the purpose for which will be explained hereinafter. The mouth of the neck is round-ed, as shown at 8, so that 10 danger of secretion of dirt and germs will be materially reduced. Furthermore, as the top of the neck and the body normally lie flush, impedance to the fiow of the contents of said container will not take place.

Associated with the body 3 is a relatively thick cap which is indicated in general by the numeral 9. The cap is of substantially inverted U-shape in cross section and is preferably formed of the same material as the body 3. to fit snugly about the body 3, in closed position, as shown in Figure 1, and said cap is formed at one side with a cut away portion NJ to receive freely the hinge loops 4. -A hinge pin l! is embedded in the cap at either side of the cut away portion iii and extends across said portion through said hinge loops for swingingly connecting the cap and the body. Formed diametrically of the cap is a second cut away portion l2 which is adapted to receive the bill 5 when the cap is in closed position.

Embedded in the cap 9 and extending from within the cap and through the cut away portion [2 is a latch l3. The latch is illustrated in detail in Figure 4 and comprises an engageable portion l4 and spaced legs l5 which are bent laterally at their corresponding free ends, as indicated at IS. The legs l5 define an opening I! which is adapted to receive the bill 5 when the cap is closed. As best seen in Figure 1 of the drawing, when the latch is in position on the cap, the free end portions It will be embedded in the cap and the legs l5 will project downwardly near the vertical walls defining the cut away portion l2, and the engageable portion M will be bent obliquely outward so that, when the cap is shifted to closed position, the engageable portion I4 will ride over the bill 5 and will engage under said bill for effectually retaining the cap in closed position.

Embedded in the cap diametrically of the latch is a spring I8 which is illustrated in detail Figure 5 of the drawing. The spring is of substantially U-shape in contour and comprises a bight portion l9 and spaced spring legs 20. The 55 The cap is adapted spring is mounted within the cap above the cut away portion In and the spring legs 20 thereof project downwardly to lie between the pin I I and the wall of the body 3. The spring legs are tensioned inwardly, that is to say, toward each other to provide a grip on the hinge loops 4, so that when the cap is shifted to raised position, it will remain in that position, but may be brought to closed position with slight pressure. Furthermore, the spring will assist in retaining the latch firmly beneath the bill 5 when the device is in closed position. Carried within the cap beneath the lower wall thereof is a sealing washer 2| which is formed of cork, rubber, or other suitable material.

After the device has been used for a time, and the sealing washer becomes worn, it is only necessary to rotate the body 3 on the neck 2 for again tightly clamping the sealing washer 2| between the inner wall of the cap 9 and the upper end of the neck 2. This adjustability prevents the contents of the container from leaking out or becoming dried.

In use, after the device has been installed on the neck of the container, either in manufacture or at a later time, and it is desired to remove a portion of the contents from the container, it is only necessary to manually engage the engageable portion M of the latch I3 and shift said latch outwardly for freeing the same from beneath the bill 5. The cap may then be swung rearwardly for permitting free egress of the contents of said container. The spring it will largely effect the closing operation. after the desired amount of the contents of the container has been removed. When it is desired to close the container, it is only necessary to swing the cap downwardly so that the engageable portion of the latch will ride over the bill 5 and engage thereunder for effectually closing the container.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 6 of the drawing, the numeral 22 indicates a latch which is formed from a single strand of wire and which may be substituted for the latch l3 in manufacture, if so desired. The latch 22 comprises a bight portion 23 which is formed, intermediate its width, with a twisted loop 24 which defines a manually engageable portion. Spaced legs 25 are, like the rest of the device of this modification, formed of spring wire and are adapted to have their corresponding free end portions 25 embedded in the cap 9 in the same manner as the free end portions l6 of the preferred form. The latch of the modification is adapted for use in identically the same manner as that of the preferred form and, if it is desired to substitute this form of the invention for the preferred form, the same may be done at will.

It will be seen from a reading of the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawing, that I have provided a simple and highly efficient closure cap which may be manufactured cheaply.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

l. A closure cap including a body having hinge loops, a bill formed on the body opposite the hinge loops, a cap associated with the body, said cap having a cut away portion at one side thereof adapted to receive the hinge loops, a pin extending through the cap and hinge loops and swingingly connecting the cap with the body, said cap having a second cut away portion adapted to receive the bill, and a latch extending from said second mentioned cut away portion and adapted to engage the bill for retaining the cap in closed position on the body, said latch being shiftable for freeing the cap and permitting egress of a substance carried in the container.

2. A closure cap including a body having a bill and hinge loops, said body being adapted to engage about the neck of a container, a cap associated with the body, means swingingly connecting the cap with the body, and a spring wire latch carried by the cap and having a loop forming a manually engageable portion, said latch being adapted to engage under the bill for retaining the cap in closed position on the body.

3. A closure cap including a body adapted to fit about the neck of a container and having a bill and hinge loops, a cap associated with the body and having a cut away portion adapted to receive the hinge loops and a second cut away portion adapted to receive the bill, means carried by the cap and extending through the first mentioned cut away portion and hinge loops and swingingly connecting the cap and body, a latch carried by the cap and projecting through said second mentioned cut away portion and having ,an obliquely disposed engageable portion adapted DANIEL P. BALAIS. 

